The second-division pacesetters, Kilkenny and Clontarf, both played with admirable spirit before losing by the minimum margin to first-division opponents YMCA and Railway Union in the preliminary round of the Cable & Wireless-sponsored Leinster Senior Cup on Saturday.
Indeed, it was only in the 68th minute that Paul O'Brien bagged the winner for Railway at Park Avenue after Clontarf had kept the home side much on their toes. Peter Maybury - whose brother Alan was distinguishing himself in his first full game for Leeds United, against David Ginola no less - showed his interprovincial prowess in midfield while Eoin MacCoille held his ground alertly at centre-back against the quick moving Stephen Moulton.
Moulton found space to fire in one particularly goal-worthy shot midway through the first half but David Moore brought off a fine save and continued to foil the Railway strikers until O'Brien earned a second-round meeting with Three Rock Rovers.
Kilkenny, captained by former Glenanne goalkeeper Ross Harding, relished their visit to YMCA and led twice before losing to the Dubliners, 3-2. Niall O'Gorman and youth international George Williams were on the target to put the visitors 2-1 up at the interval, before which Williams also hit a post, but despite Harding's best efforts, YM were forceful enough to move into the last-16 stage. Stewart Taylor, Michael Fry and Andy Robertson were their scorers.
As regards the more highpowered cup tie at Serpentine Avenue, Pembroke Wanderers again succeeded in rebutting Corinthians' challenge (2-1) but an uninformed visitor to the Sandymount venue would be inclined to believe that Corinthians were the league champions as, largely through Paul Armitage and James Benson, they swept into the attack in the opening half.
Corinthians - sound, too, at the back with Colin Stanley establishing himself - were rewarded with one of the most exhilarating goals of the season when Colin Stewart delivered a perfect hit-in for Wesley Rothwell to dash from halfway, beat Nigel Henderson on the edge of the circle and guide the ball into an empty net. Pembroke, however, managed to equalise before the interval, with Andy Cooke poaching a penalty stroke for Paudie Carley to convert. Cooke was also the principal marauder early in the second half as he sent in a shot which Peter Darley kept out, only for Stephen Stewart to prod home the second-phase chance.
Stewart, too, extracted the sharpest of saves from Darley from subsequent short corners, of which Pembroke forced only three, compared to nine for the visitors. Perhaps, if Corinthians, are to retain their ambition to move in elite circles, they should put a notice on these lines on their web page: `WANTED: Dragflicker.' Old-style set-pieces will not outwit a goalkeeper of Henderson's calibre.
In Cork, short-corner striker Dave Eakins netted his 13th goal of the week (12 for Ashton in the All-Ireland Schools Championship) as he opened the scoring for Harlequins in their 5-0 league defeat of Galway.
Understrength Lisnagarvey (for whom Jimmy Kirkwood is now playing for the second XI and Robbie Taylor is taking a break) went under 2-1 to up-and-coming Annadale in the Ulster Premiership.
